Why do birds molt?
Feathers wear out, as clothes do, and need to be replaced. The process is called “molting.” Birds molt their feathers at least once a year, in late summer or early fall. Feathers are made from a substance called “keratin.” It is basically the same material your hair is made of.
In molting, old worn feathers drop out of their sockets in a bird’s skin and new ones grow in their place. Some birds grow bright, new feathers for the nesting season.
These birds molt twice a year. Most birds molt just a few feathers at a time, so they are able to fly during molting periods.–Dick Rogers